Bradley McGee has been ruled out of next month's Tour de France as he struggles to recover from a suspected discal hernia.

McGee, the prologue winner on the 2003 Tour de France and Olympic team pursuit champion a year later in Athens, pulled out of the Tour of Switzerland during Tuesday's fourth stage.

The 30-year-old Francaise des Jeux rider has been undergoing tests to determine the source of pains that have been plaguing him for over two months. He will have further tests in the coming days and may have to undergo surgery, his team sporting director Yvon Madiot said.

"The first scans did not allow us to diagnose this hernia," said Madiot.

Meanwhile, former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich has proven he is in top form by winning the Tour of Switzerland for the second time on Sunday.

The T-Mobile rider claimed overall victory by dominating the ninth and final stage, a 30.7km time-trial, as many riders were hampered by a violent storm.

Australian Cadel Evans finished second in the stage 23 seconds behind the German who had benefited from more favourable weather conditions.

Sitting third overnight Ullrich finished 24 seconds ahead of Spaniard Koldo Gil with fellow Germany Jorg Jaksche overall third 1min 03sec off the pace. Overnight leader Gil finished ninth in the stage at 1min 14sec.

Ullrich has warned that he is aiming for Tour de France success this summer. He won the French race in 1997, but has failed to break the domination in recent years of seven-time champion Lance Armstrong.

The 32-year-old former Olympic champion has finished runner-up in the Tour five times, three times behind Armstrong, and finished third last year and fourth the year before.

Ullrich adds the Swiss title to his 2004 success. It was his second win this season after the time-trial on the Giro in May.

AFP